President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday launched a series of citizen-centric, sustainability-focused and heritage initiatives at Rashtrapati Bhavan to mark the completion of four years in office, reaffirming her vision of making the presidential estate more accessible, inclusive and reflective of India’s democratic and cultural ethos.
The initiatives, inaugurated during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, ranged from digital visitor services and child welfare facilities to green mobility projects and infrastructure aimed at achieving net-zero energy goals.
Among the key announcements was the launch of an application-based e-Audio Guide for visitors to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Designed to enhance the visitor experience, the guide will be available in Hindi, English and 14 other Indian languages, along with a dedicated sign language module to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The President also unveiled the third edition of e-Upahaar, an online auction featuring 300 curated Presidential gifts. The public auction will be held from August 5 to September 5, 2026.
As part of initiatives for the welfare of residents of the President’s Estate, President Murmu inaugurated Bachpan ‘Bal Parisar’, comprising ‘Kilkari’, a children’s play zone, and ‘Samarth Anganwadi-cum-Palna’, a facility aimed at providing a safe and nurturing environment for children’s growth and development.
In a major step towards sustainable transport, the President flagged off RAAHI (Rashtrapati Bhavan Access And Heritage Interconnector), a fare-free electric bus service for staff and residents of the President’s Estate. Operated entirely by women drivers and conductors, the service is intended to provide safe, convenient and inclusive mobility, particularly for women, children, senior citizens and Divyang persons, while also connecting the estate to the nearest Metro station.
The President also laid the foundation stone for a new service block as part of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Net Zero Energy Strategy, underlining the estate’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Additionally, she inaugurated new accommodation facilities at Rashtrapati Niketan in Dehradun and Rashtrapati Nilayam in Secunderabad, besides laying the foundation stone for the redevelopment of staff quarters within the President’s Estate.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu said it had been a constant endeavour to ensure that Rashtrapati Bhavan serves as a vibrant symbol of India’s rich traditions, democratic values and national ideals. She highlighted several initiatives undertaken over the past year to promote India’s civilizational heritage, including the installation of the bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, the inauguration of Param Vir Dirgha and Granth Kutir, the Indianisation of State Rooms and greater incorporation of Indian art and traditions during State Receptions.
Later in the day, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan released five publications documenting different phases of President Murmu’s tenure and presented the first copies to the President in the presence of Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan and other dignitaries.
The publications include Rashtrapati Bhavan: Rashtra Ka Bhavan, covering the President’s first year in office; Seva Aur Samvedana, documenting the second year; Samaveshi Sahbhaghita, highlighting the third year; Bharatiyata Ka Utsav, chronicling the fourth year; and Ama Rashtrapati – Ama Gourav, a collection of articles in Odia authored by eminent personalities.
Speaking after the release of the books, President Murmu said their titles reflected India’s faith in inclusive democracy and expressed confidence that the illustrated publications would help readers understand the traditions, functioning and diverse facets of Rashtrapati Bhavan while inspiring citizens to take pride in the country’s heritage.
Reflecting on her tenure, the President said assuming office on July 25, 2022, had been a responsibility even more than an honour. She said she had carried out her duties over the past four years with a deep sense of obligation, encouraging young people to uphold ethical values and contribute to nation-building, urging women to become self-reliant and confident, motivating tribal communities to preserve their cultural heritage while embracing development, and encouraging the Indian diaspora to actively participate in India’s development journey.
V-P Radhakrishnan described President Murmu’s four-year tenure as one marked by grace, humility, wisdom and an unwavering commitment to the Constitution. Calling her journey from a remote tribal village in Odisha to the country’s highest constitutional office “deeply inspiring,” he said it reflected the strength and inclusiveness of Indian democracy.
Highlighting key achievements of her presidency, the Vice President referred to the opening of Amrit Udyan, Rashtrapati Niketan and Rashtrapati Tapovan to the public, initiatives to make Rashtrapati Bhavan more Divyang-friendly, and the installation of the bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari. He said these efforts had brought the Presidency closer to the people while moving beyond colonial-era traditions.
He also recalled the release of the Constitution of India in the Santhali language in the Ol Chiki script, describing it as a landmark initiative that strengthened the tribal community’s sense of pride and reaffirmed India’s commitment to preserving its linguistic and cultural diversity.
The Vice President expressed confidence that the publications released on Tuesday would preserve and showcase the values that have defined President Murmu’s tenure – constitutionality, service, compassion, inclusivity, cultural confidence and national unity.
